The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-05-06

three war-whoops in the hope Of bring
ing help. though there was no one in
s.ght.
Aunt Betsey held on bravely, and
actually succeeded in starting the horse
"a poor, broken-dOwn old thing, that
hardly felt the whip through his tough
hidc-when Filippo, miserable migrate!
jumped out in obedience to his step
fathers command, and seized the ami
NAL by the bit. At the same time, the
father reached over with his disengag-
ed arm. and a lively struggle ensued
between us for the possession of the
whip. The cabman paid no attention
to what was going on. apparently think
ing it best to let US settle our own diff
culties.
"Scream!" cried my aunt, and while
1 obeyed, she carried the war into the
enemy's country. with sudden move
ment, evidently quite unexpected by
him. Dropping her hold on the bag,
she fastened her hands. with strong
clutch, in his glossy and luxuriant hair.
1t must have hurt him, for he cried out.
and with a fierce "Ea,adetto"' reached
back and drew from his clothing some
thing that flashed in the sun like silver.
As he thus released me. jumped upon
the drivers seat, and struck the horse
with all the energy of terror. The
animal bounded forward. dragging the
boy a few steps. My aunt shrieked.
and the next moment we were tearing
up the Via Marmorata like mad. leav-
ing both big and little brigand behind
us.
All this had taken place so suddenly.
and was over SD quickly, that l was
dazed. l began mechanically picking
up our white violets, and it was fully
two minutes before l saw that Aunt
Bctsey was pale US death. and covered
with blood.
"A guardian ~ l cried. frantically. to
the cabman, to which he answered:
Isl! 81" But Il policemen is rs hard
to find. when he is wanted. in Rome as
elsewhere, and we had nearly reached
the Forum before we found one. He
seemed SO little excited or even inter-
estcd in our adventure, that / began
to believe all Italians in league to
rob us.
When he asked the cabman why he
did not assist us, or ut least drive off,
the astounding reply was made: IL
knew him; l didn't know them; I did
not care to be found tomorrow with Il
knife through my heart"
As my aunt had tainted by this time.
l gave the ..Guar,lia" our address. and
drove home; but no further notice was
ever taken of the affair by the authori-
ties. As we had been successful i
keeping our property. and as Aunt Ret
sey's injuries were more painful than
dangerous, presume they thought we
ought to be satisfied.
When we returned from Naples,
FilippO came to see us. With torrents
of tears, he disavowed all connection
with the affair. He said he WAS in dead
ly fear of his step-father-bascst of
wrctches!-who would have killed him
if he had not obcyed. He was desoiat-
ed, despairing. would throw himself
into the Tiber if the signora would not
forgive him. As for that wretch. that
serpent. he had fled. no one knew
whittier: lie would never be seen again.
Aunt Betsey believed him. l did not.
There is little ill-temper between us
TO this day on that subject; but we took
our drives without him for the re-
mainder of our stay. and aunt scheme
of adoption was definitely given up
Clara q. DOliircr, tn louth's Compan-
ton.